Buffer



W. H. MINER April 25, 1933.

BUFFER Filed May 29. 1950 fr. mi@ 7 ZM mEq/MM m JNN. y SN R m E MN NN m m. www@ N .il m uw Mw A www kw vw uw www, NNQNMNW m\ Patented Apr. 25, 1933 `FFICE WILLIAM H. MINER, DECEASED, LATE OF CHAZY, NEW YORK, BY ALICE T. MINER, EX-

v ECUTRIX, OF CHAZY, NEW YORK, AN'D WILLIAM P. SIDLEY, EXECUTOR, OF WINNETKA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T0 W. I-I. MINER, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE BUFFER Application led May 29, 19.30. Serial No. 457,378.

This invention relates to improvements in buffers.

This applicationvis a continuation in part of application'Serial No. 340,148 filed' February 15,1929.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient buifing mechanism for railway cars, which comprises few parts and may be readily and economically assembled. Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claim hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this speciiication, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken centrally through the platform and underframe structure of a railway car, illustratingvthe improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a horizontal, longitudinal sectional view of the bufng mechanism proper, illustrated in Figure 1, the combined friction shell and sp-ring cage casting being shown partly in 1wlan. Figure 3 is a front end elevational view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 2. Y And Figure 4 is a vertical, transverse sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In said drawing, the end platform of the car is desginated generally by the character l0, the same being provided with a pocket 11 within which the bufngmechanism proper is accommodated. The buing mechanism is supported by a plate 13 which is secured to the underframe structure of the car. The movable buer stem,l which is of a. form commonly employed, is indicated by 14 and has the front end thereof cooperating with the movable buifer platform section 15 of the car.

. The platform section 15 is slidably supported in the usual manner by side stems, not shown.

The improved buffer mechanism comprises, broadly, a combined friction shell and spring cage casting A; a pair of guide arms B-B Xed to the casting; a spring cap C; spring resisted friction means within the casting including a plurality of friction shoes D-D, a cooperating Wedge member E, a spring follower F, and a twin-arranged main spring resistance G-G; and spring means H interposed between the spring cap and the friction means.V

The combined friction shell and spring cage casting has-the friction shell, which is indicated by 16, at the forward end thereof, the spring cage being provided at the rear portion-of said casting. The spring cage portion is of substantially rectangular box-like form having spaced .top and bottom walls, a transverse rear end wall 17, a front end wall 18, and relatively short side wall sections 19-19. The end walls 17 functions in the manner of a rear follower and abuts the rear end wall of the pocket 11. The side walls 19 are left open, as shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2, so as to permit the insertion of the spring resistance elements G within the spring cage. The friction shell section 16 of the casting A is in the form of regular heXag-.

onal tubular member and is of smaller size thanV the cage of the casting. The friction shell section, as most clearly indicated in Figure 4,-is provided with siX longitudinally extending interior friction surfaces which are symmetrically disposedabout the central aXis of the mechanism and converge inwardly thereof. At the intersections of each two adjacent friction shell surfaces, the wall of the shellv is curved, as most clearly shown in Figure 4. y The friction shoes D are three in number and each has a V-shaped outer friction surface, the sections of which cooperate respectively with two adjacent interior friction surfaces of the shell. At the intersection of the V-shaped portion of the friction surface, each shoe is rounded as shown. Each shoe is provided with an enlargement 20 on the inner side thereof having a wedge face 21 which cooperates with the wedgemember of the friction means. Y

The wedge member, which is indicated by of thetwin springs G and the inner ends of the friction shoes, the forward side of the follower being preferably provided with a continuous flange 35 of hexagonal formation which extends into the friction shell and di` rectly engages the inner ends of the shoes. In the normal position of the parts, the spring follower F engages the end wall 18 of the cage and is held against outward movement thereby. A casting A is provided with two pairs of ears 2,5-25 on opposite sides thereof. As most clearly shown in Figure 4, the members of each pair. are'spaced apart and extend laterally outwardly from the friction shell section 16 of the casting. Each ear 25 is formed integral with the friction shell section 16 and the front walllS of the spring cage section of the casting.

The guide arms B for the spring cap are arranged on opposite sides of the friction shell-section '16, as clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Each arm B is in the form of a channel-shaped beam member having a vertical web 26 and spaced top and bottom flanges 27--27. The iianges 27 of each arm are directed inwardly and deiine a guideway which cooperates with the spring cap C, as hereinafter more fully pointed out; At the -forward end, the guideway of each member B is closed by a transverse wall or web 28 5 which forms a front limiting stop member cooperating with the spring cap. The inner end portion of each arm B is disposed between the top and bottom ears 25 at the corresponding side of the casting A and is secured to the ears by a pair of rivets 29-29 extending through the ears rand the top and bottom webs 27 of the arm B. Each arm-B is reinforced at the inner end between the top and bottom flanges 27-27 by enlargements or bosses 30-3() which surround the rivets 29 and fill the space between said top and bottom flanges.

The spring cap C comprises a main body portion corresponding to the hexagonal form of the friction shell and having a pocket 31 on the inner side, adapted to accommodate the front end portion of the spring means H. The cap C is provided with laterally projecting guide lugs 32#32 at opposite sides thereof, which engage within the guideways formed'between the top and bottom flanges 2727 of the guide arms B. As most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the guide lugs 32 comprise spaced top and bottom members reinforced by a connecting integral pin-like section 132. Guide means of cooperating tongue and groove formation is thus provided between the cap and the arms B.

As most clearly shown in Figure 2, the main body portion of.l the spring cap C projects forwardly beyond the lugs 32 and presents a flat front end face 33 on which the inner end of the buffer stem 1,4 bears. The spring means H, ywhich isinterposed between the spring cap C andi the friction mcansfcomprises inner and outer coils, the inner coil having itsopposite ends bearing on the enlarged portion 22 of the wedge and the Vouter'endf wall-,of the pocket 31 of the spring cap, respectively. The stem 23 of the wedge block is disposed within the coils of the inner spring and the spring cap Cris provided. with a similar stem 34 inwardly projecting therefrom and engaging within the coils of the inner spring. The relative approach of the spring cap and the wedge block is limited by engagement of the stem 34 with the stem 23. The outer coil of the spring means H has its front and rear ends bearing respectively on the front end Wall of the pocket 31 and the front endsof the friction slices. v rIvhe spring means H is preferably placed under initial compression when the mechanism is assembled and maintains the spring cap in its outermost position, the latter being restricted in its outward movement by the end walls 28 on the arms B.

In assembling the improved bufling mechanism, the spring follower F and the spring elements G are placed within the spring cage by inserting the same through one of the open side wall portions thereof. The wedge and friction shoes are then placed in position within the friction shell section 16.v The spring means H and the spring cap C are e then applied and the guide arms B engaged with the lugs of the spring cap. The parts are then slightly compressed so as to permit the proper positioning of the inner ends of the guide arms B between the ears 25 with the rivet openings of the arms in'alignment with the rivet openings of the ears. The arms are then secured to the ears by means of the rivets 29. It will be evident that the parts may be readily disassembled when the occasion demands, merely by removing the rivets 29.

ln the operation of the improved biliiing mechanism, when anvinward or buffing force is applied to the stem 14 the same is communicated to the "spring cap C which is forced inwardly, compressing the spring means H between the same and the friction means cooperating with the friction shell section of the casting A. Due tothe force acting on the wedge, the same will spread the shoes laterally outwardly, bringing the same into tight frictional engagement with the shell friction surfaces and also forcing the same inwardly against the resistance of the springs G. The compression of the spring means H will be limited by engagement of the stem 34 with the stem 23, whereupon the wedge will be forced inwardly directly by the cap C. Compression of the mechanism will be positively limited by engagementof the cap C with the front end of the friction shell section 16 of the casting A. The parts of the bufhng mechanism, after the actuating force has been reduced, will be restored to their normal full release position shown in Figure 2 by the expansive action of the springs G and H, the former returning the follower F and the friction shoes and wedge block to the position shown in Figure 2, and the spring I-I returning the spring cap C to its outermost position, with the lugs thereof in engagement with the end walls 28 of the arms B.

As will be evident, the guide arms B form simple and efficient means for attaching and holding the spring cap C assembled with the remainder of the bufing mechanism and also function as positive guides for controlling the longitudinal movement of the cap.

W'hile there is herein shown and described what is considered the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, the same is merely illustrative and all changes and modifications are contemplated which come within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

That is claimed is:

In a buffer, the combination with a casing open at one end and containing a shock absorbing means, said casing having, at said open end, laterally projecting pairs of eX- terior ears at opposite sides thereof, the ears of each pair being spaced apart; of channelshaped guide members at opposite sides of the casing having the flanges thereof directed inwardly, each of said guide members having its inner end seated between the ears of the pair at the corresponding side of the casing and rigidly secured thereto by fastening devices extending through the ears and the flanges of the corresponding guide member, each of said guide members having reinforcing portions between the flanges thereof disposed about said fastening devices, each of said guide members having the outer ends of the channels thereof closed, thereby providing limiting shoulders; a spring cap having integral guide lugs of substantially rectangular outline at opposite sides thereof engaging between the anges of said guide members respectively, said lugs engaging said limiting shoulders to restrict outward movement of the spring cap and spring means interposed between the spring cap and and the shock absorbing mechanism of the casing.

Estate of William H. Miner, Deceased.

WILLIAM P. SIDLEY, Exec/Later of the Estate of William H. Miner, Deceased. f 

